[GNC] Scheduled transactions

[John Layman]

I find variables to be extremely useful, and even use them in simple math
expressions.  There is, however, a UI quirk that might cause people to
assume they don't work.

In the simple case where the transaction includes a variable, let's say
'amt', the Since Last Run panel will prompt for the value by displaying the
variable name within parentheses, '(amt)'.  You supply the value by
double-clicking the prompt and typing the value.   The quirk is that you
must tab out of the field to conclude the entry.

-----Original Message-----
From: gnucash-user <gnucash-user-bounces+john.layman=ieee.org at gnucash.org>
On Behalf Of David H
Sent: Wednesday, January 4, 2023 5:20 PM
To: Tommy Trussell <tommy.trussell at gmail.com>
Cc: gnucash-user at lists.gnucash.org; adrien.monteleone at lusfiber.net
Subject: Re: [GNC] Scheduled transactions

Tommy,

My workflow is somewhat different but I find it gives me a good handle on
upcoming transactions and account balances...

I just set up all of my scheduled transactions to Create automatically and
Notify me when created 60 days in advance. This gives me a pretty good idea
of what's coming up even over the next couple of months even for bills such
as utilities that haven't arrived yet.  When Gnucash starts it displays a
list of newly created scheduled transactions for me to check if I want to,
most times I just give it a quick scan and close the tab.

I also check the "Register >> Layout >> Future transactions after blank
transaction" checkbox ON (I usually sort on date order) so that I get a
blank transaction line between transactions up to today and the future
transactions which makes the future ones stand out.

When I get the actual utility bill, which can be up to 6 weeks before the
due date in some cases, I update the due date and amount details and take it
from there :-)

Yes, forget the variables, I've never managed to get them to work either by
duplicating and modifying an existing transaction or creating one from
scratch, so I found it wasn't worth persisting with at all !!!

Cheers David H.

ps I skimmed over the adding error and didn't notice it until I saw your
followup email :-)


On Thu, 5 Jan 2023 at 07:06, Tommy Trussell <tommy.trussell at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I enter scheduled transactions from the future all the time. For 
> example, when I receive a utility bill or a credit card that will 
> draft my bank account on the (future) draft date.
>
> The secret is to use the "Remind in advance" field in scheduled 
> transactions. For my bills, the statement might usually come on the 
> 15th of the month and draft on the 3rd day of the NEXT month. SO I 
> have my reminder ("remind in advance") come up about 15+3=19 days 
> before the draft date. It takes a few months to figure out about when the
bills are usually "in hand"
> (online or by mail) but I adjust them for the usual, and note the bill 
> dates in the name of the Scheduled Transaction. (For example: "Water
> bill/15 due/3").
>
> If an unusual situation (such as a February?) makes the bills 
> available a few days sooner than usual before the draft date, I can 
> either wait until the later date or temporarily increase the "remind in
advance" field.
>
> Obviously if the amount doesn't change, such as a mortgage payment, 
> you could use the "Create in advance" field, even months in advance, 
> maybe to help you monitor cash flow.
>
> When the Since Last Run dialog comes up, HERE is where you have a "pop-up"
> you were looking for. The status of each transaction will be listed 
> along with a little chevron to remind you the status can be changed. 
> Change the ones you want to enter now to "To Create." If somehow 
> you've gotten ahead of yourself (or behind the times), change the ones 
> you're not ready from "To Create" to "Reminder."
>
> I am tempted to add a tip about using variables, but I'll stop here.
>
> On Tue, Jan 3, 2023 at 12:52 AM Adrien Monteleone < 
> adrien.monteleone at lusfiber.net> wrote:
>
> > Is this just a one-off? I'd just enter the transaction. If it is 
> > complicated and you already have an instance in a register, duplicate
it.
> >
> > If it hasn't ever occurred, and you don't want to manually enter it, 
> > edit to run today, click Actions > Since Last Run to fire it off, 
> > then edit to revert to your future date.
> >
> > But no, there is no way I can see to otherwise execute it.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Adrien
> >
> > On 1/3/23 12:36 AM, Fred Tydeman wrote:
> > > I looked in the Help: Tutorial and Concepts Guide in GC 4.13 for 
> > > the
> > term:
> > > "scheduled transaction" and got no hits.
> > >
> > > My question is:  Is it possible to select a scheduled transaction 
> > > from
> > the
> > > future and have it be done now?  I was hoping I could click on the
> > calendar
> > > entry and get a popup offering choices:  Skip, Run now, Edit, ...
> >
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